Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Eritrea

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Eritrea in 2003 — 45.57%. Ranked 2 in the world out of 168. Since 2000, the indicator has risen by 8.16 pp.

2003 45.57% +14.68 pp vs 2002
World rank 2of 168
Period maximum 45.57%2003
Period minimum 30.02%2001

Trend over time

2000–2003 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Eritrea, 2000–2003303540455020002001200220032000: 37.41%2001: 30.02%2002: 30.89%2003: 45.57%
Change over the period: +8.16 pp Annual average: 2.72 pp

Comparison, 2003

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Eritrea

Eritrea 45.57%
World 7.39%
Eastern Africa computed 17.38%
Low-income countries computed 20.81%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Eritrea, by year Eritrea All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2003 45.57 +14.68 pp
2002 30.89 +0.87 pp
2001 30.02 −7.39 pp
2000 37.41

About the indicator

The share of food in merchandise imports. The indicator reads as a measure of food dependence, but with a caveat: a high share occurs both in rich countries with little agriculture, where food is simply a large item of consumption, and in the poorest ones, where it means vulnerability to world grain prices. Comparing it with food insecurity and with the share of agriculture in the economy helps tell the two cases apart.

Important: A high value is not in itself a sign of trouble: in Singapore and Japan the share is high while the food supply is entirely secure. It is worth looking at together with food insecurity.

Source: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.